Projector for time indications



March 3, 1959 G. s. MCKENZIE PROJECTOR FORTIME INDICATIONS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan 50, 1957 FIG. I

ll/ INVENTOR. /07 G. STUART MQKENZIE FIG. l2

ATTORNEY G. S. M KENZIE PROJECTOR FOR TIME INDICATIONS March 3, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1957 FIG.4

m R. Z mN E mg y T R RNJW M T FNM 0 6 5 m 7 F M? w 5 3 M 7 9 3 3 1 L a Iw 7 y I 5 O4 3 March 3, 1959 G. s. M KENZIE PROJECTOR FOR TIMEINDICATIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30, 1957 4/ FIG. 6

INVENTOR G. STUART MQKENZIE BY ATTORNEY 2,875,668 PROJECTOR FOR TIMEINDICATIONS G. Stuart McKenzie, Concord, Mass. Application January 30,1957, Serial No. 637,141

1 Claim. (Cl. 88--24) This invention relates to time indica'tingmechanisms and more especially to means in association therewith wherebya visual time indication may be displayed on a remote surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a timeindicatingmechanism with an associated means whereby a visual time indication maybe displayed on the ceiling immediately above a bed; the display beingunder control of the occupant thereof. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism foreither continuous or momentary display of a time indication on a remotesurface such as 'a floor, wall or ceiling during a blackout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exhibitingelement and its advancing mechanism as a cooperative but separate anddistinct unit for association with a time mechanism. A

Still another object of the present invention is to maintain thedisplayed individual time indications stationary for a sufficiently longperiod by effecting intermittently the advance of a film strip for thehour and a separate but cooperative strip for the minutes.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide amechanical or an electrically operated clock with an associatedmechanism for projecting the time on a remote surface; such mechanismbeing of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture having aminimum number of mass produced parts, is easy to assemble and installand which is pleasing in appearancmcompact and efiicient in operation.

Other objects of the present invention will be pointed out in part andbecome apparent in part inthe following specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures:

. Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of twin beds in' a room withthe new projector for time indications on a night table between them.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a clock provided with the newand improved projector for time indications. r Figure 3 is a plan view,with the film strips removed, of the mechanism for the new andimproved-projector for time indications. I

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure' 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 8--8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional viewtaken along line g rc= v v, v v.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the United States Patent2,875,668 Patented M'ar. 3, 195.9

2 separate film strips for the minutes and hours of time which areprojected to a remote surface.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure10.

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 1313 of Figure 3.

An electric 'clock 10 of any'manufacture, is illustrated in thedrawings. The conventional electric clock. is provided with an electricmotor 12 having a main drive shaft 13 (see Figure 9). A pinion 11 (seeFigures 3 and 9) is fixed to drive. shaft 13. It is understood thatdrive shaft '13 may be the extension of the main drive shaft of aconventional mechanical clock.

A housing is provided consisting of a front plate 14, arear plate 15, arightside plate 16, a left side plate 17 all secured together into anintegral unit. It will be noted that this housing is a hollow verticalrectangular band.

A horizontal inverted U shaped band consisting of left leg 20, top plate21 and right leg 22 (see Figures 3, 4 and 9) is inserted within thehousing with left leg 20 secured to left side plate 17 and right leg 22secured to right side plate 16 as by welding. Top plate 21 is providedwith clearance areas 23 and 24. A bottom bracket'25 is secured onopposite ends to left leg 20 and right leg 22 as by welding if metal isused or with an adhesive if plastic material is employed.

Electricmotor 12 is secured to rear plate 15 with a right side bracket26 interposed between the motor 12 and right side plate 16. Bracket 26is secured on one side to motor 12 and on the other side to right sideplate 16. Aleft side bracket 27 is secured on one side to left sideplate 17 and on the other side to motor 12.

Said'housing, said'horizontal inverted U shaped band and said brackets26, 27 provide a frame which supports the various shafts and decorativeouter housing.

. *Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 9, an upper sprocket shaft 30 isfixed on one end in front plate 14 and on the other end in left sidebracket 27. Similarly, a lower sprocket shaft 31 is fixed on'one end infront plate 14 and on the other end in left side bracket 27. A spool 32provided with film engaging sprocket teeth 33 for the hour strip of filmis rotatively mounted on upper sprocket shaft'30. A similar spool 34provided with film engaging sprocket teeth 35 for the minute strip offilm is rotatively mounted 'on upper sprocket shaft 30. Alspacer washer36 is located between spools 32 and 34.

A pair of hour and minute film carrying third idler spools 37, 38 arerotatively mounted on lower sprocket shaft 31 with a spacer washer 39between them.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 6 and 9, a sprocket indexing shaft 40 isfixed in front plate 14 and in the casing ofmotor 12. Rotatively mountedon sprocket indexing shaft 40 are two sprocket indexing Wheels 41, 42for hour indexing and minute indexing, respectively and separated by awasher 43.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 7 and 9, a shaft 24 is rotativelyvmounted onone 'end in ,the casing of motor --12. An idler pinion gear 45 for speedreduction is rotatively mounted on shaft 44. Idler pinion gear 45 isprovided with 'a reduced shoulder to which'is fixed an idler gear 46 forspeed reduction. A collar 47 is fixed to shaft 44 adjacent idler'gear46. A second hand pinion gear 48 is rotatively mounted on shaft 44.Secondhand pinion gear 48 is provided with a reduced shoulder to whichis fixed a second handgear 50; A bushing 51 is fixed to shaft 44 withone end abutting second hand pinion gear 48. A spacing collar 52 isfixed to bushing 51 and is provided with two reduced portions. Onereducedportionis. fixediin front plate 14 to-supporgjthe end of shaft 44thfotigh bushing 51. "As new ham gear 3 53 is rotatively mounted on theother reduced portion of spacing collar 52. A minute hand pinion gear 54is fixed to bushing 51 and. is provided with a reduced shoulder to whichis fixed a minute hand gear 55. Figure 7 shows how these gears arealigned on shaft 44.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9, a transfer shaft 57 is fixed on oneend in front plate 14 and on the other end in bracket 26. A secondreduction pinion 60 provided with a reduced shoulder is rotativelymounted on transfer shaft 57. A second reduction gear 61 is secured tosaid shoulder. A third reduction pinion 62 provided with a reducedshoulder is rotatively mounted on transfer shaft 57. A third reductiongear 63 is secured to said reduced shoulder. A fourth reduction pinion64 provided with a reduced shoulder is rotatively mounted on transfershaft 57. A fourth reduction gear 65 is secured to said last mentionedreduced shoulder. Two spacing washers 66 and 67 are secured to transfershaft 57 to hold said reduction pinions 60, 62, 64 and reduction gears61, 63, 65 in spaced relation on said transfer shaft 57.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 9 and 13, wherein a second set of sprocketwheels and idler spools similar to those shown in Figure are provided,upper and lower spool shafts 70, 71, respectively which are fixed on oneend in front plate 14 and on their other ends in bracket 26. An hourfilm carrying first idler spool 72 provided with film engaging sprocketteeth 73 for the hour strip of film is rotatively mounted on upper spoolshaft 70. A minute film carrying first idler spool 76 provided with filmengaging sprocket teeth 74 for the minute strip of film is rotativelymounted on upper spool shaft 70. A spacer washer 75 is located betweenspools 72 and 76. A pair of hour and minute film carrying second idlerspools 77, 78 are rotatively mounted on lower spool shaft 71 with aspacer washer 79 between them.

Referring to Figure 10, a continuous strip of film 80, which may be ofany color or be multi-colored, is provided with numerals 81 representinghours. Five sets of numerals from 1 to 12 inclusive are printed on stripof film 80. Strip of film 80 will make one complete revolution in sixtyhours. Sprocket teeth orifices 82 are provided equi-distant in one edgeof the film for engagement with sprocket teeth 33 and 73.

A second continuous strip of film 83, which may be of any colorcompatible or non-compatible with the color of strip of film 80, isprovided with numerals 84 representing minutes. One set of numerals from1 to 60 inclusive are printed on strip of film 83. Strip of film 83 willmake one complete revolution every hour. Sprocket teeth orifices 85 areprovided equi-distant in one edge of the film for engagement .withsprocket teeth 35 and 74.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, and 11, a lens 90 which may increase ordecrease the size of the numerals 81, 84 when these numerals areprojected on a distant surface, is fixed in top plate 21. A U shapedcasing 91 provided with pins 92, 93 on one end and pins 94, 95 on theopposite end houses a lens 96 which is compatible with lens 90. Anelectric light bulb 97 is housed in U shaped casing 91. Pins 92, 93 aresupported in motor 12 housing. Pins 94, 95 are supported in front plate14. Strips of film 80, 83 pass between lenses 90, 96 to present thenumerals 81, 84 which are to be read at any given interval of time.

Indexing wheels 41, 42 are each provided with an indexing pin such asindexing pin 99 fixed in the side of indexing wheel 41. Spools 32 and 34are each provided with indexing teeth 100, 101 respectively which areengaged by indexing pins such as indexing pin 99 engaging indexing teeth100, to rotate spools 32, 34 in timed sequence, as will presentlyappear. A second band 103 is fixed to shaft 44. A minute hand 104 isfixed to bushing 51. An hour hand 105 is fixed to spacing collar 52.

In operation, electric light plug 102 will be connected 4 to a 60 cyclesource of electric current to rotate shaft 13 of electric motor 12.Thereby rotating pinion 11 three hundred and sixty revolutions perminute. Idler gear 46 will be rotated by pinion 11 and will in turnrotate idler pinion gear 45 which will rotate second reduction gear 61and second reduction pinion 60, which engages second hand gear 50.Second hand gear 50 will rotate second hand pinion gear 48 fastened toshaft 44. Shaft 44 is driven at the rate of sixty revolutions perminute. The train of gears and pinions just described reducing the R. P.M. of pinion 11 from 360 R. P. M.s to 60 R. P. M.s at shaft 44. Secondhand gear 50 will rotate at one R. P. M. and will transfer that R. P. M.through indexing wheel 42 and indexing pin to index or rotate spool 34the distance of one indexing tooth 101 each minute to advance numerals84 on film strip 83 one position each minute.

Second hand pinion gear 48 will drive third reduction gear 63, whichturns third reduction pinion 62 and thereby turns minute hand gear 55one revolution each hour. Minute hand gear 55 engages indexing wheel 41carrying indexing pin to index or rotate spool 32 the distance of oneindexing tooth each hour to advance numerals 81 on film 80 one positioneach hour.

Minute hand gear 55 will rotate minute hand pinion gear 54 fixed tobushing 51 to rotate bushing 51 one revolution each minute.

Minute hand pinion gear 54 will rotate fourth reduction gear 65, whichwill rotate fourth reduction pinion 64 engaging hour hand gear 53 whichrotates spacing collar 52 one revolution each hour. Hour band is fixed,to the end of spacing collar 52.

Referring to Figures 1 and 12, momentary contact switches 106 and 107are fixed to the sides of twin beds 108 and 109 with a night table 110between them. Clock 10 is placed on night table 110. The electriccircuit consists of plug 102, clock motor 12, light bulb 97 andmomentary contact switches 106, 107 all in a parallel series circuitwith clock motor 12 running continuously. Momentary contact switches 106and 107 are normally open. The occupant of either bed may close theswitch on his bed to energize light bulb 97 to project the numerals 81,84 on the ceiling to tell the time. A rheostat 111 may be installed inthe electric circuit to vary the intensity of light bulb 97.

Thus a clock is provided having a conventional face 112 and hands 103,104, 105 and a projector for time indications for the secondary tellingof time from remote surface reflection.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, by way of example, it should be realized that structuralchanges could be made and other examples given without departing fromeither the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

A projector for time indications comprising a hollow verticalrectangular band housing, a horizontal inverted U shaped band fixed tosaid housing to comprise a frame to support a clock mechanisms, a motorsupported in said frame, a clock mechanism comprising 'a chain ofgearing, time indicators secured to said mechanism, said motor drivingsaid clock mechanism in timed sequence, a shaft supported in said frame,a minute sprocket indexing wheel and an hour sprocket indexing wheelrotatively mounted on said shaft, an upper sprocket shaft and a lowersprocket shaft supported in said frame, an hour sprocket spool providedwith sprocket teeth and a minute sprocket spool provided with sprocketteeth rotatively mounted on said upper sprocket shaft, said minutesprocket indexing wheel rotating said minute sprocket spool in timedrelation, said hour sprocket indexing wheel rotating said hour sprocketspool in timed relation, said clock mechanism rotating said minute andsaid hour sprocket indexing wheels in timed sequence, an upper spoolshaft supported in said frame, an hour and minute film carrying firstidler spools rotatively mounted on said upper spool shaft, a first lowerspool shaft, an hour and minute film carrying second idler spoolsrotatively mounted on said lower spool shaft, a second lower spool shaftsupported in said frame, an hour film carrying third idler spool and aminute film carrying third idler spool rotating normally on said secondlower spool shaft, a film strip having hour indicia and provided withsprocket teeth orifices rotatively engaging said hour sprocket spool,said hour carrying first idler spool, said hour carrying second idlerspool, and said hour carrying third idler spool with said sprocket teethorifices engaging to be driven by said sprocket teeth on said hoursprocket spool, a second film strip having minute indicia and providedwith sprocket teeth orifices rotatively engaging said minute sprocketspool, said minute carrying first idler spool, said minute carryingsecond idler spool and said hour carrying third idler spool with saidsprocket teeth orifices engaging to be driven by said sprocket teeth onsaid minute sprocket spool, a casing supported in said frame below saidfilm strips, an electric light supported in said casing, a first lensfixed in said casing, a second lens compatible with said first lenssupported in said frame above said film strips, said electric lightprojecting said indicia on said film strips through said second lens.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,147,501 Genter July 20, 1915 2,078,936 Eitzen May 4, 1937 2,425,704Nemeth Aug. 12, 1947 2,486,425 Loewe et a1. Nov. 1, 1949 2,652,745 QuinnSept. 22, 1953 2,834,250 Stefani May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS GermanyOct. 25,

